Race, the ELCA, and the Virginia Synod
As a student at Roanoke College, Lily Pingel, a member of Grace, Waynesboro, completed an honors project on the race, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Virginia Synod. As of 2020, [...]
Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools (Sept. 30)
At its September meeting, the Virginia Synod Council formally received the July 2021 letter from the ELCA American Indian Alaska Native Lutheran Association (ELCA AIAN), calling on this church to Remember the Children. The ELCA [...]
Feast Day for the Emanuel Nine: Friday, June 17
In 2019 voting members of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a resolution designating June 17 for commemoration of the martyrdom of the Emanuel Nine, who were shot to death on June 17, 2015, by a self-avowed white supremacist [...]
A Profile of African Americans Lutherans: Dr. Rosa J Young
Dr. Rosa J Young (1890-1971) was a tireless missionary and educator who helped start 20 Lutheran churches and 30 Lutheran schools in rural Alabama, as well as Concordia College in Selma. Rosa J. Young, the first [...]
A Profile of African Americans Lutherans: Daniel Payne
Daniel Payne (1811-1893) was born on February 24, 1811 to free Black parents London and Martha Payne in Charleston, South Carolina. Daniel Payne studied at the Minors’ Moralist Society School for two years, and then [...]
A Profile of African Americans Lutherans: Jehu Jones, Jr.
Jehu Jones, Jr (1786-1852)., the first African American Lutheran pastor, was born in Charleston, South Carolina on September 4, 1786, to slave parents, Jehu Sr. and Abigail Jones. Jones’ parents were freed in 1798. Jones [...]
Faith Formation Action at Muhlenberg Lutheran Church
By Janette Helmick of Muhlenberg, Harrisonburg An adult faith formation class at Muhlenberg, Harrisonburg has been gathering via Zoom throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. During our digital conversations, one subject which has generated the most conversation [...]
Group of Lutherans Fixes 300 Years of Racism During 1-Hour Zoom Meeting
by Matt Booher of St. Paul's, Jerome Okay, maybe the headline is a little embellished. Nevertheless, a small group of people did meet virtually one evening, shared some stories, and walked away with a better [...]
Emanuel Nine & Juneteenth – Bishop Bob Humphrey’s Statement on Racism
As we prepare to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the murders of nine Black members of a Bible study group in the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church by a white Lutheran (ELCA)-raised man [...]
Do Justice: June 4, 2020
Welcome to Do Justice, a semi-monthly newsletter of the Virginia Synod, lifting up God’s call and command that we, God’s people, do justice. You will find helpful info about justice ministries in congregations, around [...]